Watson to sell licensed Colazal generic

RALEIGH, N.C. Watson Pharma will begin marketing and selling an authorized generic of Salix Pharmaceuticals’ anti-inflammatory drug colazal, as per a supply and distribution agreement between the two companies. The drug is used to treat mild to moderate cases of active ulcerative colitis.

Carolyn Logan, Salix president and chief executive officer, stated, “Salix is committed to aggressively protecting its colazal business and growing market share in the inflammatory bowel disease market. As part of our life cycle management program for colazal, we are extremely pleased to partner with Watson to market and sell the authorized generic of colazal. Watson is a major supplier of generic pharmaceutical products, and, with decades of experience and impressive expertise in the generics business, should be positioned to maximize our generic business.”

Watson will begin launching the generic immediately. The drug had sales of $130.9 million in the U.S. for the year ending Sept. 30, 2007, according to IMS Health.